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NWS Three-Month Outlook for January, February and March

Posted on Fri 01/06/12, Updated 04/02/12

The National Weather Service three-month outlook for January, February and March 2012 suggests a high probability of continued warmth and near normal precipitation for Delaware during the remainder of the winter season.

The forecast calls for an increased probability of above normal temperatures for much of the eastern United States and below normal temperatures across California and the Pacific Northwest. The forecast also suggests enhanced probabilities of lower than normal precipitation across much of the southern United States, with above normal precipitation likely in the Ohio River Valley and the Pacific Northwest and northern Rockies (see maps at left).

The forecast is highly dependent upon the likely effects of the La Nina event currently in progress across the equatorial Pacific Ocean. La Nina is a cooling of the sea surface temperatures across much of the equatorial Pacific Ocean along with associated atmospheric anomalies. These anomalies have a significant effect on weather patterns across the globe.

Although there is an increased probability of warmth and near normal precipitation amounts across Delaware, it is important to remember that significant snowfall events can still take place within a warmer than normal winter season.